Gradometer



March 8, 1927. ,380 s. E. MORRISON GRADOMETER Filed Feb. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7/ //w/////// wr/// /////z 6 w 3 M w,

' 1,62 March 8, 1927. s. E. MORRISON 0 380 GRADOMETER Filed Feb. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES GRADOMETER.

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PATENT OFFICE.

lt ncaaoa filed Febru'ary 1e, 192s. sbiial No. sane... 1.

ets to befsecuredito the instrument board-beefcated in.

tween whichtlrecasing oii the instrument is rotatzibly mounted, means being provided on the casing to"enga-ge"the bracketvto adjust; the casing "relatively tor (i -movingmember; within the "casing to permit accurate-are,-

'angement of the instrument after installation'on the instrninent 'board- Another objectot the invention is the-provisiono'f a weighted cylinder withinthecas-g ing carrying graduations' indicating the degrees of'angle of grade, weighted arms be ing alsoprovided-on the cylinder to counten, act the 'efi'ects of sudden olts incident to roughipla'c'es in=the'road-."

A' further object of the invention is the provision of improved means for journaling the graduated 'cylindenwithin the casing comprising circular trunnions on thecylinder and bearings'for'the trunnionsthat are I polygonal incrossse ction to reduce to the minimum {friction .betweenthe trunnions and the bearings. i

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the gradometer showing it mounted on an instrument board. shown fragmentally,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig ure 1,

Figure 3 in position,

Figures 4 and 5 the cylinder,

]?igure 6, a transverse sectional View of one of the cylinder bearings, and

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the bearings.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The gradometer comprises a cylindrical casing 1 that comprises two telescoping sections 2 3 respectively, the walls of the is a side view of the instrument are opposite side. views of Side P hQ nan n f and l r n bearing portions 12. that'jbear in polyg the polygonal bearings 13.

sections El and 3 being cut away as shown at *ftlZO iorm, a s ght open1ng, a panel of trans parent material such, as glass, cellulold, mica .or the like being mounte'd in the opening,

said v panel. beingdesign'ated 5, The 'side walls ot the casing, l have"tubularbearings 11p;- 6 secured therein, that are rotatably iii-oun-te. i 1 in angular brackets 'flthat adapted 5 0 secured ,to, anv instrument" board' 'A as in'di Figure ,1, t0 :mount' the instrument fthereon fl i Mounted for rotationrelatively t thecas 1 .mana ement web 9 and a peripheral rim 10; thiiscylihder be emanate f mta iq in, the re s by means oftrunnioiisllfextendiirg n each bearings 1 8. inttliel. "G ftbis structure neducmg'to "a "min mum the fine tion between the trunnion "bear1n'gs12 :a-nd

The peripheralrirn 1Q is graduat'e dto dsignate the degrees of a circle froinone point thereon. indicated 'zgyq efritendiiig ai oniid the rim in both directionstherefrom. The cylinder is we ight,ed on one side fot the par 1 t-ition or. web; Qasshowriat 7; e'igh being adapted to maintain' the' ylin ler in' a' fixed position g 'ayityih wnateve'hposi: I tion the enclosin'g'casinginaylassii iieliehause of theinclination .of the 'gra dej' o ii vi p v 'ich the vehicle may be resting 'or' progressing. On the opposite side of the partition or Web 9 and on the upper portion thereof from the weight 14 are weighted arms 15, one being mounted on each side of the center of gravity of the cylinder as determined by the Weight 14. Arranged intermediate of the Weighted arms 15 is a stop 16 to limit the swingingot the arms toward one another. The function of the arms is to stabilize the cylinder 8 to counteract the effects of sudden jars or shocks to the motor vehicle caused by striking obstruct-ions in the road over which it may be progressing. Arranged in the sight opening 4 is a pointer 17 from which the degree of the grade will be indicated and to accurately set the instrument means are provided for doing this, comprising a threaded pin on the outer side of easing 1 and a thumb nut engaging said pin that is adapted to clamp the flange of the angular bracket on the same side of the casing,- said. threaded pin being indicated 19,--

the thumb nut at 19, while the flange of the bracket which is concentric with the tubular bearing 6 is designated 20.

Regarding the stabilization of the cylinder by the arms 15, hereinbefore referred to, it will be apparent that the shocks or jars that will disturb: the position of the cylinder 8, will be those fore or aft of the vehicle, or in the direction of rotation of the cylinder. Assuming that the jar is forwardly, caused for instance by one or both of the front wheels dropping into a hole in the road, the tendency of the weight 14: will be to swing the lower side of the cylinder towards the front of the vehicle. At the same time, however, the arm 15 on the front side of the stop 16 will be swung forwardly on its pivot and the effort of said arm to resume its normal position, in addi tion to the weight of the other arm 15, it will counteract the tendency of the weight 1% to rotate the cylinder and the cylinder will remain practically in equilibrium.

In operation the device is mounted on the vehicle by means of the brackets 7. lVith the'vehicle standing on a level surface, casing 1 is set after loosening nut 19 so that pointer 17 is in line with graduation zero on the cylinder and the casing then fixed by tightening nut 19 against flange 20. When the device has been so fixed it will be obvious that the device will thereafter indicate the angle of grades on which the vehicle may be standing or proceeding by the graduations on the rotatable cylinder in their relationship with pointer 17.

WVhat is claimed is 2-- 1. A gradometer, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and having a slight opening therein, a cylinder in the casing and weighted to hold it in a fixed position by gravity, said cylinder having graduations visible through the sight opening, and weighted members pivotally mounted on said cylinder on opposite sides of the center of gravity thereof to counteract the eftect "of shocks on the cylinder.

2. A gradomet-er, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and hav- I ing a sight opening therein, a graduated cylinder in the casing and weighted to hold it in a fixed position by gravity, said casing and cylinder being relatively rotatable, weighted members pivotally mounted on the cylinder on opposite sides of the center of gravity thereof to counteract the effect of shocks on the cylinder, and a stop on the cylinder and arranged. between the weighted membersto limit their movement toward each other.

3. A gradoineter, comprising a, casing, brackets adapted to mount the casing on a vehicle, one of said brackets having a semicircular flange, means on said casing engaging said flange to hold the casing in a fixed position relatively to the brackets. a weighted cylinder in said casing, said casing and cylinder beings relatively rotatable, weighted arms pivotally mounted on the cylinder on opposite sides of the center of gravity thereof, and a stop on the cylinder and arranged between the arms to limit their movement towards each other.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

SAMUEL E. MORRISON. 

